According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the deal is being held up behind the scenes by Perez's reluctance to give it the green light, a factor that could prove decisive in whether the move ultimately happens.
One of the arguments previously used against pursuing the transfer centred on the player's age and physical condition, following the serious anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus injury he suffered to his right knee in September 2024, which kept him out for eight months. His recovery has since proven excellent, however, culminating in Spain's triumph and Rodri being named the tournament's outstanding player.
The complications do not appear to have ended there. According to The Athletic, Rodri is set to undergo surgery on a back injury this summer, with the recovery timeline still unknown - a development that could yet prove significant to how the transfer situation plays out.
Real Madrid are aware they are facing a key opportunity to secure his signature, but Manchester City's proposed contract renewal remains on the table, and other clubs could also register interest. At 30, the Spaniard has shown he still has plenty of football to offer, though this latest setback threatens to complicate, or even close off, his path to Valdebebas.
The uncertainty comes despite mounting internal support at Real Madrid for the move, with figures inside the club increasingly viewing Rodri as an ideal fit for Jose Mourinho's midfield plans.
City, for their part, are yet to receive a definitive answer on the extension they proposed back in April, with Rodri and his representatives seemingly still weighing up whether their long-term future lies at the Etihad or in a return to Spain. His current deal at City has one year remaining, meaning any transfer decision would need to be reached relatively soon to avoid the situation drifting into its final months.
Should the back injury require a lengthy recovery period, it could further complicate matters for all parties, potentially delaying any move until City have clarity over his fitness, or prompting Real Madrid to reconsider the risk profile of pursuing a player who has now suffered two significant injuries in as many years.